Ducey delays evictions for renters hurt by COVID-19
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is delaying evictions for the state’s renters who are quarantined due to the coronavirus or have lost their incomes because of it.
The order comes as 2,500 metro Phoenix renter households are facing eviction. That number is expected to climb rapidly as more people get sick or lose jobs because of the coronavirus crisis.
Ducey issued the executive order on Tuesday. It is scheduled to remain in effect for 120 days.
“Nobody should be forced out of their home because of COVID-19,” said Ducey in a statement.
He said the order was issued to protect public health and provide relief to families impacted by the virus “whether through sickness or economic hardship.”
During the past week, the Maricopa County courts have been working on plans with justices of the peace to delay eviction hearings due to the health and economic crisis. As of late Monday, more than half of the justices had agreed to automatic delays on evictions.
About 730 eviction hearings for Valley renters are scheduled this week.
"The Governor’s order not only protects tenants but all Arizonans,” said Pamela Bridge, director of Advocacy and Litigation at Community Legal Services. “Losing a home is catastrophic at any time, and during the COVID-19 pandemic, forcing families out of their homes in search of other housing endangers the public health of all Arizonans.”
The executive order states Arizona courts shall temporarily delay enforcement of eviction action orders for residences due to one of the following circumstances that must be documented for the landlord.
❚ A renter is required to be quarantined because they have been diagnosed with COVID-19.
❚ A tenant is ordered by a licensed medical professional to self-quarantine based on symptoms defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
❚ A renter is required to be quarantined because someone in their home has been diagnosed with COVID-19.
❚ A renter demonstrates a health condition that puts them at risk for coronavirus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
❚ A tenant suffered a substantial loss of income resulting from COVID-19 due to any of these reasons: job loss, reduction in compensation, closure of place of employment or a need to be absent from work to care for a home-bound school-age child.
The order calls for tenants eligible for eviction delays to contact their landlord in writing and include documentation to support their cause.
Rental evictions can happen in 30 days in Arizona, while foreclosures typically take three months. So the move to help renters first is important, say housing advocates.